Back With A Blogging Vengeance

It’s been at least six months since I last posted to my blog and for good reason. September of 2012 was one of the busiest months for my business, Jaclyn Mullen Media! After nearly two years of hard work, extreme focus and a passion for digital media, my efforts were starting to pay off. I found my dream office in a modern building overlooking the Hollywood Hills off Sunset Blvd. I had an employee and an intern assisting me with my client work load and the clients--they were phenomenal. The creative energy was flowing and I couldn’t have been happier. And that’s when it all came crashing down like a stack of Jenga blocks.

You see, in early October 2012, I got some pretty crushing news regarding a personal matter. Don’t worry, it didn’t have to do with me or my business. Everything there was on the "up and up." For now, I choose to keep the news I received private. But let’s just say me, my ego and my emotions learned very quickly that entrepreneurs aren’t super heroes. Although we entrepreneurs may not like to admit it or think it, we are just like everybody else when it comes to playing the hand of cards that life will deal us even if that hand backs us into a corner.

For the first time since I launched my business nearly three years ago, everything and I mean everything shifted. 

• I didn’t care about my sales goals or about blogging. 
• I had to begin the process of canceling the office lease. 
• I put my entrepreneur skills to use, dealing with the situation at hand. 
• And I immediately got Life Lesson 101 in entrepreneurship which was even though your business can be your passion, even though you can have such a wild love affair with it, you better know when to walk away and take a break and shift your passion and focus to things that will be there for you whether you make it in business or not—such as your family and friends.

Between November 2012 and January 2013, there were so many moments where I didn’t know how I’d get my business back on the "dream" track. Other matters took precedent and rightfully so. 

The irony in my situation was that I had always hoped entrepreneurship would yield me luxury, wealth and affluence. What I learned was I was blessed with luxury, wealth and affluence in my ability to work remotely, to travel as I needed, to be calm, level headed and logical.

Thankfully, 2013 has started off on a much better note. The Jaclyn Mullen Media client roster is full (Popzazz.com, Sneaky Pete’s Beverage, Mulberry Street Pizzeria and more), I am going through my second go round of Marie Forleo’s B-school and I’ve learned so much looking back on the last 5 years of my life that I can’t help but want to flash forward to the future.

So that’s it. My quick, brief update just to fill you in and say hello, bon jour, hola. To say, sometimes life is going to throw us a situation that we may perceive to be a curveball. And it’s going to be really difficult to stretch, to run, to contort your body and spirit however you can to catch the darn thing. Sometimes, unbeknownst to us, we  just need to rapidly release a lot of the things surrounding us—ideals, people, even opportunities.

And it’s totally ok to take your “time out.” 

To sit back and say, “How did this just happen and why?” 

But don’t sit on the sideline for too long. Look for the lesson in your circumstances, treasure the lesson and then, come back with a vengeance. 

My lesson had to do with priorities, with gratitude, with family. Only you will know the meaning and value of yours. Uncover your hands from your eyes, stop looking back and wondering why things occurred the way they did in the past and take whatever action you can today to make your future different. Let Superman keep his kryptonite. The human spirit and it’s resiliency is the best super power one could ever have and don’t you forget it!

Curious to know what blog post I’ve got in store for you next? Which would you prefer: The Concept of Release and Surrender As It Pertains to Business OR Facing The Fear of The Solopreneur Ship? Your call. Post your preference in the comments below.

AND if you haven’t done so already, feel free to join me and 343 amazing people in the Jaclyn Mullen Facebook community. We talk marketing, making it yourself (be it your brand, business, art, you choose) and mentorship. Facebook.com/jaclynmullenmedia

Or if you’re bored and looking for something fun to do, join me in my adventures as a solopreneur bootstrapping my business, saving the world and still making time for the spa. Your boarding pass awaits at Instgram.com/JaclynMullen 

Another "Jac" Of All Trades Joins Jaclyn Mullen Media: Meet Jackie Carbajal

Well folks, it's been awhile. As a matter of fact, it's been too long since we last blogged. But there have been a lot of developments in the summer air (and there will be plenty more developments as we breeze into fall).

Our client roster is growing, our skill set is expanding, heck--we're even moving into an office November 1st! None of these changes would be possible without our clients.....or you.....or the people who help the moving parts "move along" on a daily basis.

Enter Jackie Carbajal, the new (and very first) Creative Designer at Jaclyn Mullen Media. Jackie brings her wit, design skills and humor to the team. We're happier, healthier (being less stressed is a good thing) and we want you to get to know a little bit more about the other "Jacqueline of all trades"!

Name: Jacqueline Carbajal
Age: 23
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Astrological Sign: Aquarius
Favorite Color: "Black is such a happy color!"- Morticia Addams

On a daily basis, you can't live without which three brands:

1. Apple aka my iPhone, which has grown into my arm.
2. My Michael Kors Purse and the contents which it holds. I give Mary Kate Olsen and other bag ladies a run for their money.
3. Pete's Coffee/Starbucks/Coffee Bean. Anywhere that I can get coffee. I can't live without coffee

Which social networking platform are you addicted to? Why?

Twitter, Twitter and more Twitter. I like having a forum that I can express my internal dialogue without the commentary from Facebook.

What excites you about working for Jaclyn Mullen Media?

The idea that it is such a current job, meaning that this line of work didn't exist 15 years ago. I am excited about using social media in order to spread "word of mouth" about companies and helping them flourish. It's exciting to work for someone who is living her dream because she inspires me to pursue mine.

Where do you want to be in 5 years?

I would like to be living in New York City as a freelance designer and gallery owner with my dog Teddy.

Which do you prefer: photo posts or text posts? Why?

I enjoy photos from artists and designers: they allow me to see their current work. However, I love a good laugh so twitter posts from comedians really make my day.

Favorite place on earth:
Difficult question, I have 3.
1. Yosemite, the most beautiful place on Earth.
2. Disneyland, the happiest place on Earth.
3. MOMA, I could days looking at art and new exhibits.

Goal you are most excited to fulfill in this new role:
To create an identity for myself and learn the aspects of running a successful business.

Plug for your Twitter and Tumblr.

Tumblr:
http://tuskrealsavagelike.tumblr.com

Twitter/
@jackiecarbajal

Pintrest:
http://pintrest.com/jackiecarbajal/

Alright folks, look for more J and J collaborations including our Startups and Stilettos™ LOGO! 

Let us know what you think! You can always comment or connect with us at Facebook.com/jaclynmullenmedia

Meet Our Team: Michelle Lock, A Miami Hurricane, Joins Jaclyn Mullen Media From China

There's an old saying, "Ask and you shall receive."  Apparently, it's really true because we'd been saying we wanted some extra support and well, we got it when we least expected it! With that said, Jaclyn Mullen Media is international thanks to our team member, Michelle Lock. 

Michelle just finished her freshman year at The University of Miami. In her spare time, she has contributed to the school paper and even helped with Facebook strategy for the University of Miami Memes. 

And in the 2012-2013 school year, Michelle will serve as treasurer for the Public Relations Student Society of America. Here's some additional info on Michelle. She's been with us for one week so far and we appreciate her work and insight into the international use of the Internet.

 
1) Name: Michelle Lock
    Age: 18
    Hometown: Shanghai, China
    Astrological Sign: Scorpio
    Favorite Color: Sky Blue

2) On a daily basis, you can't live without which three brands: I cannot live without caribbean passions from Jamba Juice, my Apple Macbook Air, and Frosted Strawberry Poptarts!

3) What do you love about social networking? I love how I can connect with friends from everywhere all around the world! Without social media like Facebook, I probably wouldn't be keeping in touch with old friends and talking to as many people as I do now.

4) Why did you want an internship with Jaclyn Mullen Media? I wanted an internship with Jaclyn Mullen Media because there are an infinite amount of possibilities. And who better to have my first internship with then with a fellow 'Cane! :)

5) Where do you want to be in 5 years? New York City!

6) How is social media different in China than in US culture? It is so different! The biggest difference is that Facebook and Twitter are blocked, so I have to use proxies to get around the censorship. There is a Chinese social media platform like Facebook though, that people here use. Social media isn't as portable as it is in the US. Everywhere, people are on Facebook or tweeting about things on their phones all the time. However, here in China, it has mostly stayed on computers.

7) Favorite musician/group. Why? I love Lady Gaga! Because she isn't afraid to be different.

8) Goal you are most excited about fulfilling through your internship this summer. I am most excited about building my own personal brand and establishing my online presence!

To keep up with Michelle, and help her build her online presence, please follow her on Twitter @michelleytlock

Employment Vs. Entrepreneurship

Sleeping in late, working when you feel like it, less stress. These are not characteristics of entrepreneurship however, they can be common misconceptions about the self-employed lifestyle. 

And while entrepreneurship does have perks like being your own boss, it also requires a certain personality type. 

You have to be organized, self motivated, focused, disciplined and determined to make it! You also have to be able to sacrifice luxuries and any notion of disposable income in the formative years of your business.

As a matter of fact, on a recent trip, I had a very candid conversation with a friend of mine; a former entrepreneur who has recently found happiness in the corporate world. And we couldn’t help but chuckle at the motivations for our distinctive paths--she (professional woman) vs me (entrepreneur).

Professional Woman

-Entrepreneurship provided a lot of creativity but it consumed a lot of creative energy too. How so? There was the creativity of bootstrapping a business budget, exploring various advertising revenues in addition to religiously growing a consumer base.

-A steady salary, 401k and health benefits are nice! They sure beat waiting on money to come in then crossing your fingers that you cover costs. Oh and they sure beat hoping that you have a little left over to pay yourself.

-Working for a corporation allows you the budget to be creative. If there is a necessary expenditure to help meet the end goal, it’s covered in a synch.

-It’s nice to have a life and not work, work, work and work some more.

On the flip side, here is what I had to say regarding the benefits of entrepreneurship.

The benefits of Entrepreneurship/Self Employment

-Mobility! Hands down this is the number one reason I work for myself. I need to be able to pick up and go and bring my business with me. Most entrepreneurs would agree.

-Distaste for micromanagement, self-motivated. Nothing is more frustrating than having to wait on something or being told that vision may not work. You don’t know unless you are willing to try, trust and learn in the process. 

-Breakaway from cubicle confinement. Whether I work out of my home office, also referred to as my productivity palace, or the local coffee shop, a change in scenery leads to enhanced creativity. And that means I can think for my clients beyond the basic business boundaries. The 99% had a great blog post about this entitled, "Are You An Arm Chair Creative?"

-All the risk, all the reward. Yes, entrepreneurs forgo the initial perks of a steady salary, health benefits and 401k but if the risk you’ve made pays off, you reap all the reward! I’d rather bet 100% and yield 200% the get a 10% standard of living increase annually. How about you?

Bottom line.  Which do you prefer--employment of entrepreneurship?

What works best......You may try entrepreneurship and discover that it's not for you. (And that's ok). But if the ideas of building something from scratch and watching it grow, having geographic flexibility and having something to call your own melt your heart, then you may be fit for entrepreneurship. Of course you won't know for certain unless you try. And if all else fails, you're 401k will be waiting for you.

Got something to say? Feel free to post a comment below. Want more entrepreneurial advice and motivation? Visit http://www.facebook.com/jaclynmullenmedia

Photo Credit

D is for Decision Making (And Determination)

This is a catch-up post for a month long blog series called "The A to Z Challenge." D was Thursday's letter and on the Jaclyn Of All Trades blog, D stands for Decision Making (and determination to get caught up on this challenge).

I fell asleep early tonight. Long gone are the Saturday evenings where I stay out until 2:00 am and wake up sleep deprived on Sunday. These days and nights, I'm making decisions based upon what will serve my long term goals, not short-term satisfaction. 

Decisions: stay in, get at least 8 hours of sleep, drink plenty of water, workout 4-5 times per week, improve my business daily, blog, have a little fun a long the way while learning to lighten up a little. (I also decided to use my time wisely tonight since I woke up two hours after falling asleep and post this overdue blog!)

What about you? What are some of the decisions you are making for yourself? 

Personally, the thing I love about decision making is that it's an ongoing process, one we all face. So many decisions, so many outcomes. 

I "decided" to launch a business almost four years ago. I called it Momentum Marketing and Consulting because I wanted to convey a sense of urgency and speed around the work I was performing for my clients.

The only trouble was, I had no plan. I had no competitive market analysis. I had no help and I certainly had no idea how to make money. I can admit, I decided that as long as I covered my costs, I was in good shape which, in hindsight, was total business brain fail and that’s a tough pill to swallow!

But what I did learn from that particular decision was so valuable, which is why I am bringing up this topic here. I am frequently approached for advice on decision making especially as it pertains to business.

How do I build my online presence?

How do I make the most of a minimal budget?

How do I make money?

How do I determine who my customers are?

And my answer is that decision making in any facet of your life requires research in a couple of different capacities.

First, for decision making regarding a business, look into the industry you want to have a business in. Who are your competitors? What are their offerings? What are their prices?

This research isn’t a matter of replicating any of the above-mentioned things. It’s a matter of evaluating them to see what choices there are for the consumers. 

Next, decide on an initial budget for yourself. How much money are you working with? What are your top three most pressing needs? As an example, do you need a website? If so, those costs may be graphic design, website hosting and a copy writer. The same process can apply if you are deciding on a new workout routine or to even take a trip. Your budget is critical so clarify it.

Perhaps you can invest in a mastermind or collective group to get input and decision making advice from a diverse array of people.

Most importantly, you want to develop a plan. 

Are you writing a pros and cons list? 

Ultimately, when will you stop paralysis of analysis and move forward with a decision? 

Hold yourself accountable and write these things down on a piece of paper. I’m not saying your plan or approach won’t evolve but the more honest and clear you can be with yourself, the better your decision making process will be in the present and the future.

Photo Credit

Is Being Competitive A Good Characteristic Or A Bad One

C is not for confession (although I am about to share something rather personal here). Here goes: I am a reality TV junkie.

Real Housewives of every city, The Voice, Celebrity Apprentice, Shark Tank. I’m not sure if it’s the crazy theatrics of the characters or the way the producers interweave adrenaline-fueled plot lines, but something has me hooked.

And all this reality TV watching isn’t a complete time drain, I actually do pick up a lot of helpful business insight from Shark Tank. Even Celebrity Apprentice shows me the type of leader I never want to be: unorganized, unfocused, narcicisstic.

No matter how different each of the shows I mentioned above may be from one another, there is a common element that they all share: competition! Who is the best, most dominant, most talented, smartest, wealthiest, most successful individual crossing the finish line first......everytime. 

 

And I must say, I have turned the other away from competition the vast majority of my adult life. The only person I have ever been interested in competing with is myself and that's hard enough thanks to my inner critic. She keeps me moving on to the next, bigger, better challenge constantly. 

So I have to ask, is being competitive a good characteristic or a bad one?

One could argue that the greatest athletes of time are competitive but they are also team players. True? False? 

And if we didn’t have competition in business or blogging, what would be the motivation to provide better service, better content and to stand out from the crowd?

I asked and I hope you answer because I’m having a "competition conflict." On the one hand, I want to be as successful as my life will permit, I want to win awards and be in the best shape of my life with a profitable business, loving relationship and gorgeous residence. Could it be that a lack of competitive nature is thwarting that?

On the other hand, I want to be happy and fulfilled, and grateful for all that I have in this very moment. And if you agree, I'd love to know how you think we can utilize competition to be a benefit, and not a detriment to those objectives. 

What Were You Born To Do?

 This is the second post for a month-long, alphabet inspired blog post series entitled “The A to Z Challenge.”

 

B is For Born: What Were You Born To Do 

“How did you become a watchmaker,” I asked my grandfather nearly three or four years ago. I was curious how someone from his generation, without having technical school or college at his disposal, pursued a profession that would eventually allow him to immigrate to 4 different countries, own two different businesses and fulfill the American Dream.

“My father owned a convenience store in Costanza, Romania,” he told me in his thick Armenian accent. “He was able to observe some of his most successful customers.” As it had turned out, it actually wasn’t a customer that ended up influencing my great-grandfather with regard to his son’s future profession; it was a neighbor.

My grandfather continued, “We had a very wealthy, Jewish neighbor in Romania, He was a jeweler. And so, my father asked if my brother and I could apprentice under him. The next day, we did.”

My grandfather’s future had been determined by one simple plea, by one simple request that could have easily been turned down! I found myself in awe of both my great-grandfather and the neighbor. What if my great-grandfather had never asked him to mentor his sons? What if, out of fear of the unknown, my grandfather turned down the opportunity to apprentice?

And what if these very things stand true for both your future and for mine? 

What things am I talking about? 

The act of asking, the act of believing and the act of being open to learning something new.

Ultimately I can say my grandfather was fortunate enough to do what he was born to do which extended so far beyond watchmaking. As an entrepreneur, he worked side by side with my grandmother reinforcing his strong value in family first. He was born to be a businessman, born to be a loving, faithful husband. He was born to be a father and a grandfather. He was born to let me place pink curlers in his hair and to teach me how to ride a bike. As of lately, he was born to be my honorary chairman of the board.

Today, on his 89^th birthday, my grandfather was born in to the next life. I watched him go, I said goodbye and in the 45 minutes that I held his hand and listened to his breathing finally stop, a new me was born. One that will no longer bury my talents and passions below the surface, one that will not sell myself short out of the need to financially support myself, one that will lighten up and enjoy the journey without stressing that I can't get there fast enough.

And so I ask you; are you doing what you think you were born to do?  And if not, what are you going to do about it?

Ask. Believe. Be willing to learn something new. 

Hope that will help you as much as it’s helping me. Go out there and make your mark because one day, you will take your last breath and we should all be so lucky to have that happen on our 89^th birthday. 

Like this blog post? I share inspirational and entrepreneurial advice M-F on my Facebook page. Feel free to Like http://www.facebook.com/jaclynmullenmedia